Socio-economic challenges in Grande ABC region

The Grande ABC region in Brazil is facing several interconnected socio-economic challenges involving public safety, demographics, and municipal finance.

Regarding public security, the region has experienced an average of three residential crimes per day, with 777 cases recorded between January and July 2026. While this represents a 21% decrease compared to the previous year, the frequency remains a concern. Data from the Public Security Secretariat (SSP) indicates that 89% of these incidents were thefts and 11% were robberies. São Bernardo do Campo and Santo André reported the highest number of occurrences.

Demographically, the region is undergoing a population inversion. As of July 2026, the elderly population has surpassed the number of children and adolescents, with 529,763 residents aged 60 or older compared to 455,800 people aged 14 or younger.

Financially, six of the seven municipalities in the region are managing a combined active debt of approximately R$ 13 billion. This debt consists of tax and non-tax credits, with Santo André and Diadema holding the largest shares of the outstanding amounts.